Lecture: Life in Ancient Greece and Democracy in Athens and the United States

Introduction

• Topic: Life in Ancient Greece, specifically Athens during its political Golden Age
• Focus: Comparison between Athenian Democracy and U.S. Democracy

Ancient Greece and Athens

City-States

• Ancient Greece: Collection of city-states (polis)
• Most famous city-state: Athens

Athenian Democracy

• Timeline: Adopted in 507 BC, lasted nearly two centuries
• Key Terms:
  • Democratia: Democracy; Demos (people) + Kratos (power)
  • Isonomia: Equality for all under the law
• Historical Context: Positioned among Persian, Egyptian, and Phoenician civilizations
• Cultural Values:
  • Respect for wisdom and practical wisdom
  • Philosophy of rule: Rule of law (law as the highest authority)

Development of Athenian Democracy

Rule of Law

• Concept of making everyone, including leaders, subject to the law
• Aristotle: Law civilizes people

Military Culture

• Link between military service and political power
• Major military victories boosted democratic sentiments

Key Democratic Reforms

• Solon (600 BCE):
  • Mediated class war, created rule of law, canceled debts
  • Political reorganization: Four groups based on income
• Kleisthenes (508 BCE):
  • Reorganized Athens into tribes and deems
  • Created Council of 500, but Thetes couldn't hold public office
• Pericles (Mid-5th Century):
  • Aligned with calls for political equality, reduced power of Council of the Areopagus
  • Brought about Golden Age of Athenian Democracy

Athenian Government Structure

• Assembly (Ecclesia): Main decision-making body
• Council of 500: Prepared issues for the assembly
• People's Courts (Dicasteria): Large juries, no judges, no lawyers
• General Elections: High officials elected, short terms, performance reviews

Exclusions in Athenian Democracy

• Only free male Greek citizens had political rights
• Excluded: Slaves, women, non-Greeks, and non-Athenian citizens
• Slaves: One-third of the population, some legal protections, essential for the economy
• Women: Patriarchal society, restricted to domestic roles

Decline of Athenian Democracy

• Became expensive, dependent on empire
• Opposition from Aristocrats and upper class
• Final blow: Subjugation by Macedon in 321 BC

Democracy in the United States

Intellectual Background

• Limited knowledge of ancient Greece, more focus on classical Rome
• Influenced by republicanism and monarchism

Founding of the United States

Revolutionary Ideas

• Rejection of English monarchy and patronage system
• Proto-industrialization, rise in wealth, and emphasis on property
• Republican philosophy: Liberty, equality, and independence

Skepticism Towards Democracy

• Concerns about uneducated leaders and majority tyranny
• Influenced by Greek literature warning against pure democracies

Design of the U.S. Government

• James Madison: Concept of factions and complex government structure
• Three Branches: Legislative (two chambers), Executive, Judicial
• Checks and Balances: Difficult for any faction to gain full control
• Representative Democracy: Practical for large nation, checks on public's emotional excesses

Evolution of American Democracy

• Initially limited: White male property holders
• Expanded over time: Inclusion of propertyless people, women, and former slaves
• Some exclusions remain: Non-citizens, children, and certain criminals

Conclusion

Definition of Democracy

• Political organization where people exercise control over institutions
• Factors: Breadth of 'the people' and their control

Comparison

• Athens: Pure democracy with thorough control but narrow scope
• America: Limited control but broader realization of 'the people'

Final Thoughts

• Democracy doesn't have to be maximized under all circumstances
• Balance between democratic principles and practical governance

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End of Notes